love conquers all | kirisuna

Chapter XV - Night's Rendezvous

[Underworld_ Central Cathedral_]

"How could it be?!" Quinella's eyes widened, eyebrows meeting in frustration as her face turned into a scowl.

Sitting across the round conference table,  Integrity Knight Bercouli Synthesis One brought a hand to his chin. "He must've realized that he was used. The council is also unwilling to cooperate; the price we're willing to pay didn't come close to being enough," he said in his distinct, rumbling voice. "The lands they've searched didn't have any matches of the description we provided."

"No, that's not possible. Stacia is in Aincrad. I can't be wrong," the Queen replied. She stood up and started pacing. "Something is missing," she muttered.

"It must be the boy,"  added Integrity Knight Fanatio Synthesis Two.

"What boy?" Quinella turned to Fanatio, abruptly stopping.

"The boy...he's alive," Fanatio bowed her head as she muttered the reply before getting on one knee. "Forgive me, your majesty! It was...I—"

"How?!" Quinella raged. "How could it be?" she stepped closer towards Fanatio, fist clenched tightly, teeth gritting in anger. "How could he be alive if I told you to follow him...and only gave you a single order —to make sure he's dead. Now, tell me, why is he alive?!"

"Your majesty, forgive me—"

"Answer my question, Fanatio."

Fanatio hesitated to speak at first. Her lips were about to start quivering, she felt, and her eyes couldn't be anywhere else but the floor below her.

"I threw him off a steep, solid cliff in the middle of our battle," she meekly answered. "I foolishly thought that he couldn't survive the fall b-but...your majesty, I never found the body."

Silence strangled the hall. Nothing moved for a second. All that was heard was breathing─ heavy, tense breathing.

"Why is he in Aincrad? How did you find him?" Quinella continued to question.

"I was surprised, myself. I thought it was impossible, but he has a high position as the Prince's personal Knight," Fanatio answered immediately without moving.

"The prince..." she smirked, "So it was you all this time."  she mumbled once more before returning to pace around the hall. Suddenly, she stopped and looked at the Knights. "Have you ever wondered why we could never find her?"

Bercouli furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "You think he's hiding Stacia?"

"He should be," replied Quinella. "Aincrad's King has fallen ill. His clock is ticking; and it's ticking fast."

She glanced at Fanatio who hadn't moved from where she was and ordered her to rise before returning into her own seat.

"We can't underestimate those kids. They're smart and well trained," she continued. "If that Prince is crowned king, his first target will be us." She turned to the commander, "I will grant your request to increase the number of Knights. I trust that you and the commander will train them well."

Filled with determination, the queen stood from where she was, walking towards the huge double doors, she exited the meeting hall.

"Prepare the carriage," she ordered one of the guards without turning. "We're going to give the Emperor a visit."

[Ruby Palace_ Library_]

"Found anything?" A voice suddenly echoed throughout the massive library, which startled me.

I turned to face the source: a young, raven-haired man. His eyes seemed to sparkle as he smiled.

"Oh, it's just you," I sighed, returning to my book.